Our sons’ fall school breaks fell at the same time (more or less) which almost never happens. We combined that mini holiday with a 3 day cabin stay that I won through a charity raffle. We drove up to North Georgia and met my oldest son there- it was an hour shorter for him than him driving home. We spent three days taking in the gorgeous scenery and the leaves just beginning to change.
I always love a change of scenery and this trip certainly provided that. We live in a very flat area, and the mountains were lovely. The cabin we stayed in was in a very old uncut area of woods. There was little undergrowth and lots of wildlife. We saw several deer and also lots of squirrels and chipmunks. We hoped to see a bear, but they were not in sight this weekend. We took several hikes, and although the woods were as dry as they are at home, there were flowing streams and several waterfalls.
We were not (alas) the only people who spent the weekend enjoying the countryside. There were mobs of people from nearby Atlanta enjoying the weather and picking apples. We had hoped to go to a u-pick farm and try a few new varieties of apples, but we didn’t understand how that worked. Most of the U pick farms put on a sort of “fall festival” catering to families with small children on the weekends. There were hayrides and pumpkin patches and petting zoos, etc. If I had known this, I could have picked out a farm that ONLY had apple picking. But I didn’t; we went at peak time and couldn’t get into one of the farms for all of the traffic!
We enjoyed the cabin, and the community it was in was absolutely gorgeous, but also a bit creepy. It was an exclusive (and wealthy) planned community on a golf course with a marina and lots of amenities. The houses were all the same color (brown) and there were few personal touches. There were no lawns, and no landscaping except with native plants. No mailboxes, no signs, no children’s toys, no parking in the street, etc. It was all a bit too perfect. Kind of “Stepford Wife” if you know what I mean.
We had fun anyway- we enjoyed a delicious dinner out with the kids at a fun restaurant with laughably terrible live music. We enjoyed hiking in the woods, and simply sitting on the deck of the cabin and enjoying the peace and quiet. Our kids enjoyed it too. We helped our oldest fix his bicycle, and we are really enjoying a new relationship with him. We’ll definitely go back- possibly without the kids- and during the week when its less crowded.
Unfortunately, on the way home I got the call that my dear friend passed away from breast cancer. The world will be poorer without her kind and generous presence. Rest in Peace my friend.
My retirement thing of the day is just having time and space to grieve alone. I have had to go to work when I just wanted to be alone. Grieving is never fun, but it is easier not to have to put away your sadness to get your work done.